World Reviewer rating

Casablanca Medina

From the wide, evenly paved lanes to the lackadaisical shopkeepers, Casablanca’s medina feels more like a recreated theme park—or worse, an outdoor mall—than a relic of ancient urbanity. Even the stray cats are missing.

The medina itself is only a little over 100 years old, which accounts for the fresh facades and lack of historical ambiance. Swap the trinkets at the kiosks for cell phones and add some piped-in music, and it’d be an American mall. But if you’ve been battling hustlers for a couple of weeks, the peace is a welcome break—even if it feels Disney-ized.